Kawartha Choice Farm Fresh

Maplefest in Buckhorn, Let’s Go!

Karen — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:39:27 +0000

Buckhorn MapleFest 2013

After one of the more normal Canadian winter's that the Kawartha's have had in recent years this years maple crop is looking like an excellent one. With snow cover still present in the bush and the days gradually warming up with nights still cool the conditions are becoming prime for both maple syrup and Buckhorn's annual Maplefest!

A good year for maple syrup comes with perfect timing for cravings for pancakes, but also to help celebrate twenty wonderful years of Buckhorn Maplefest. Though it often feels like just yesterday for the McLean family but it has indeed been 20 years since they opened their farm for their first ever Maplefest. While celebrating Maplefest this year they’re excited to once again welcome the public to their farm in Buckhorn to say a sweet hello to spring in true Canadian fashion.

Open three weekends in March they will have all sorts of activities for everyone to enjoy. If you’ve got a sweet tooth there is plenty try - magic maple treats from maple candy floss to maple butter are whipped up from pure maple syrup right before your eyes. There are all sorts of family friendly activities to take part - whether you enjoy a walk through their old fashioned sugar bush full of buckets and spiles where the sap flows, sawing logs, tapping trees or taking in some toe tapping music there is something for everyone. Learning about one of Canada’s sweetest natural wonders brings great joy to those young and old as they take a wagon ride or delight in the wonderful sweet smells arising from the sugar shack’s evaporator. Farm animals prance around their pens with the anticipation of spring and the sweet sap flows from the trees as everyone enjoys the perks the warmer weather brings.

This year they are open three weekends in March including Good Friday. They will be open March 16th and 17th, March 23rd and 24th and March 29th, 30th and 31st. For more information please call 705-657-2134 or visit their website at www.McleanBerryFarm.com--

submitted by : Sam Mclean

mmmm maple syrup

Mmmm Maple Syrup! Sweet

Karen — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:09:20 +0000

mmmm maple syrup Sweet!

Buckhorn MapleFest 2013

After one of the more normal Canadian winter's that the Kawartha's have had in recent years this years maple crop is looking like an excellent one. With snow cover still present in the bush and the days gradually warming up with nights still cool the conditions are becoming prime for both maple syrup and Buckhorn's annual Maplefest!

A good year for maple syrup comes with perfect timing for cravings for pancakes, but also to help celebrate twenty wonderful years of Buckhorn Maplefest. Though it often feels like just yesterday for the McLean family but it has indeed been 20 years since they opened their farm for their first ever Maplefest. While celebrating Maplefest this year they’re excited to once again welcome the public to their farm in Buckhorn to say a sweet hello to spring in true Canadian fashion.

Open three weekends in March they will have all sorts of activities for everyone to enjoy. If you’ve got a sweet tooth there is plenty try - magic maple treats from maple candy floss to maple butter are whipped up from pure maple syrup right before your eyes. There are all sorts of family friendly activities to take part - whether you enjoy a walk through their old fashioned sugar bush full of buckets and spiles where the sap flows, sawing logs, tapping trees or taking in some toe tapping music there is something for everyone. Learning about one of Canada’s sweetest natural wonders brings great joy to those young and old as they take a wagon ride or delight in the wonderful sweet smells arising from the sugar shack’s evaporator. Farm animals prance around their pens with the anticipation of spring and the sweet sap flows from the trees as everyone enjoys the perks the warmer weather brings.

This year they are open three weekends in March including Good Friday. They will be open March 16th and 17th, March 23rd and 24th and March 29th, 30th and 31st. For more information please call 705-657-2134 or visit their website at www.McleanBerryFarm.com--

submitted by : Sam Mclean

Did you say…Maple Syrup?

Karen — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:56:21 +0000

Maple Syrup time!

Kawartha Farmfest 2012 – September 29

Katie — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:23:13 +0000

Kawartha Farmfest

Come Celebrate the Harvest!

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Sites Open: 10 am to 4 pm

Enjoy a self-driving tour of farms and rural attractions
in Kawartha Lakes!

Kawartha Farmfest is a one-day self guided driving tour of farms and rural
attractions throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes. Your admission
includes a map and guide to all of the Farmfest sites.

Celebrate the 10^th Annual Kawartha Farmfest this year!

Come see the cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, goats & horses. Get your pumpkins and fresh vegetables fresh from the field. Collect eggs from the nest boxes and find out how to harvest honey. Take a wagon ride and enjoy the fall colours. See spinning demonstrations, learn about organic farming, or get your picture with a farm animal. Plus much more!

Watch for Kawartha FarmFest signs and brown balloons to mark each site.

Sites include Sheepfest and Honeyfest at Crow Hill Farm, Eggfest at BarrKat Farm, Ecofest at Greenshire Eco Farms, Horsefest at Valentia Equestrian, Porkfest at O’Brienview Organic Farm, Beeffest at Hardy Country Farm, Pumpkinfest at Stellmar Farm, Lindsay & Kinmount Farmers‘ Markets, Kawartha Lakes Co-operative Auction Market, Kawartha Dairy, and The Kawartha Store.

Adult Admission Stickers are just $5!

KIDS ARE FREE!

Admission Stickers are available at:

IN ADVANCE: at City of Kawartha Lakes Municipal Service Centres in Lindsay, Bobcaygeon, Bethany, Omemee, and Kirkfield, and most Libraries south of Kirkfield, and at the Lindsay & Bobcaygeon Chambers of Commerce, Lindsay Farmers’ Market; Kinmount Farmers’ Market; Bobcaygeon Farmers’ Market; Fenelon Farmers’ Market; Kawartha Dairy Stores in Bobcaygeon & Lindsay;

DURING FARMFEST: At ALL Host Sites.

www.KawarthaFarmfest.com

A Celebration of Local Food – Kawartha Lakes 2012 100 Mile Dinner

Katie — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:05:00 +0000

A Celebration of Local Food - Kawartha Lakes 2012 100 Mile Dinner

September 10, 2012

Tickets available for 5:00 and 7:30 Seatings available.

Tickets available through Olympia Restaurant at 106 Kent St. W or by calling 705-324-1444 or Economic Development Office at 180 Kent St. W. Lindsay or by calling 705-324-9411 ext 1232.

94th Annual Peterborough County Plowing Match

Karen — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:14:41 +0000

The 94th annual Peterborough County Plowing Match will be held on the property of Clare Crough in Ennismore just east of Ennismore village on Brick rd. at the corner of Ennis Rd.

The match will be held on September 29th, about two weeks earlier than last year. There are 12 classes in the competition including 2 horse classes, beginner class, ladies class and various tractor classes.

Special events include Queen of the Furrow competition, the winner will compete at the 2013 International Plowing Match in Perth County.

We invite all the MPs, MPPs, Mayors, Reeves and other dignitaries to compete in a special VIP class for bragging rights and trophy.

For more information, please contact...

Roy Craft
705-743-3071

Duvets by Salem Alpacas Featured on CanadaAM

Katie — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:40:39 +0000

DUVETS BY SALEM ALPACAS FEATURED ON CanadaAM

Handmade Duvets from Salem Alpacas of Manilla Highlighted During Segment on Buying Canadian

Local business Salem Alpacas got a great endorsement for their Alpaca Duvets when they were featured on CTV’s CanadaAM show on June 29^th. The feature showed Canadian-made bedroom products that are available through the BuyCanadianFirst.ca website. To see the segment you can go to Salem Alpacas home page at www.salemalpacas.com

Duvets by Salem Alpacas are 100% Alpaca Fibre filled and have no sheep wool added. These duvets offer a luxurious and healthy sleeping environment, as they are extremely light weight. The Alpaca Fibre has a unique ability to help control your body temperature in both cold and hot weather.

CanadaAM also noted that Salem Alpacas Duvets are non-allergenic and dust mite free. As the Alpaca Fibre is hollow and creates a cool, dry environment, dust mites will not be able to breed. This is great news for allergy and asthma sufferers.

“Buy Canadian” was the message from CanadaAM but why not take it further and try to support our local merchants.

Salem Alpacas has been in operation since 2000. The farm is on 25 picturesque acres outside of Manilla, Ontario. It is home to over 50 alpacas and offers a range of services from alpaca sales and breeding, to group tours. There is also a Farm Store offering unique gifts, beautiful alpaca clothing and alpaca duvets, made on the premises. Guests are always welcome to explore the world of alpacas at Salem Alpacas.

If you would like more information – or to schedule an interview – please Contact:

Kathleen Holmes

Tel: 705-786-2023

Email: info@salemalpacas.com

Web: www.salemalpacas.com

History of Agri-Notes

Karen — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:40:24 +0000

The first official edition of Peterborough County Agri-Notes was dated March 18, 1997 and was prepared and sent out from the OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs) Peterborough office. This was a new name to a well established publication entitled "Beef Briefs" which had been sent to county beef producers from the early 80's to the late 90's.

At a meeting with OMAFRA staff, and representatives from the various farm organizations, it was decided that the newsletter be changed to include all commodity groups and farm businesses. Farm groups provided funding, and submitted their reports for inclusion in the newsletter which was prepared and sent out from the OMAFRA office on a quarterly basis.

In 1999, OMAFRA could no longer provide this service. Volunteers of the various participating commodities stepped up and took on this initiative as they saw the value of the publication to the local agricultural sector. A key supporter of our agricultural industry, Darling Insurance, provided the space to complete this manual task. This involved collating, stapling, folding, taping and labelling while keeping them in postal code order, and watching for duplications!

In 2000 it was decided than an editor was needed and Carolyn Porteous was hired and she brought the publication into the modern world of reporting. The ad hoc committee of volunteers later turned into an organized committee with responsibilities of keeping the publication sustainable which meant looking for financial contributors in the form of ad placements.

The publication is very basic in format; it has been consistent with the recognizable blue cover. There is still some manual work needed to be done prior to mailing it out. This work is done at the Hoftyzer Home. Folding, taping and attaching mailing labels to close to 1000 publications and still keep them in postal code order. This is done by representation from each of the commodities and is rewarded with Julia’s homemade pie, ice cream and coffee when all completed. It sounds archaic, but is a great social evening and lots of world problems get solved on this evening.

The Peterborough County Agri-Notes is an informative publication with information relevant to regional farmers and commodity groups. The articles are a compilation of information from industry partners.
To read all about agriculture in our community, visit www.ruralpeterborough.com

By: Getha Sherry
Secretary of the Peterborough Federation of Agriculture
(former OMAFRA staff)

Summer Company Participant Combines Love of Cooking & Passion for Local Food

Karen — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:42:00 +0000

Trent University student Christine Anderson has turned her love of cooking and her passion for local food into a full-time summer business through the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation’s Summer Company Program. Christine’s Fresh

Pasta provides fresh, homemade pasta made with locally grown and organic ingredients.
While growing up in Ottawa, Christine learned to cook from her father. He always made meals with high-quality ingredients, a tradition Christine carried on when she moved to Peterborough to attend Trent. While studying environmental science and agriculture, she gained an appreciation for local food and a newfound respect for farmers. Christine explains, “Given the rising transportation costs of food products, local foods will become an increasingly important aspect of our diets...Local food is not only fresher, it also supports the local economy”.

Christine at the Farmers Market

Christine has an open-book policy when it comes to what’s in her pasta. “It’s important to know what’s in your food and where it’s coming from...some grocery store pastas contain preservatives and pesticides”. Christine’s pasta is made with organic ingredients from local farms, including Miller’s Eggs, Merrylynd Farms, and Circle Organic.
You can find Christine every Saturday at the Peterborough Farmer’s Market. She carries spinach and buckwheat fettuccine on a regular basis and boasts a variety of colourful specialty flavours, such as tomato, beet, and red fife wheat. According to Christine, fresh pasta is quick, flavourful, attractive, and allows you to be more creative in the kitchen. It cooks faster than dried pasta and has a unique texture which can be paired with many sauces.

For more information on Christine’s Fresh Pasta contact Christine via
Telephone: (705) 931-2392
E-mail: christineande@trentu.ca
Twitter: @cfreshpasta

Peterborough Cattlemen’s Bus Trip – Save the Date!

Karen — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:17:58 +0000

Peterborough Cattlemen bus trip,

August 15th,16th to the Morrisburg area.

more details to come....

Tickets $200.00 per person.

Contact: Larry Jinkerson at 705-652-3596.